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Applying for a driving licence

Introduction

When you pass a driving
test you are entitled to apply for a driving licence for the category
of vehicle which you were tested for. This document explains how to apply
for your driving licence after you have passed a driving test. In other
documents you will find information on:

To apply for a driving licence, you must be normally resident in Ireland.
You are considered to be normally resident in Ireland if, because of personal
and occupational ties, you usually live here for at least 185 days in each
calendar year.

2013 changes

The Road Safety Authority now has responsibility for driver licensing and
has set up a new National Driver Licence Service (NDLS). In addition, the
application process has changed and, when applying for a driving licence, you
have to visit one of the new NDLS centres. As part of the face-to-face
application process, your photo and your signature is captured digitally. You
have to bring additional documentation to confirm your identity.

A new plastic-card driving licence has been introduced, replacing the paper
driving licence. This is an EU initiative to introduce a secure, compact style
of licence in all member states.

The number of driving licence categories has increased and the minimum age
requirement for certain categories has changed also. Further information is
available on the Road
Safety Authority's website.

Restrictions on novice drivers

Novice plates

If you obtain your first driving licence on or after 1st August 2014, you
must display N-plates on your vehicle when driving for a period of 2 years.
Motorcycle riders must wear an N-tabard. The novice period only applies once.
It does not apply to a first driving licence obtained for a different category
of vehicle after the original 2-year period ends. Further information is
available on the Road
Safety Authority website.

Disqualification threshold

The penalty points disqualification threshold of 12 points is reduced to 7
penalty points for those who obtain their first learner permit on or after 1
August 2014. It remains at the lower threshold while they drive under a learner
permit and subsequently during the first two years while they drive under their
first driving licence. Further information is available on the Road
Safety Authority website.

Drink driving limit

The drink driving limits for drivers in their first 2 years on a full
driving licence is reduced to 20mg/100ml of blood.

Category A driving licences

Category A (motorcycle) driving licences issued before 19 January 2013 carry
a restriction. This restriction limits the driving licence holder to
motorcycles (with or without a sidecar) with a power limit of 25Kw or less.
This restriction continues for 2 years after you complete your motorcycle
driving test for this category and after you have obtained a full driving
licence for this category. This restriction does not apply to category A
driving licences issued since 19 January 2013. If you hold a category A driving
licence to which this restriction applies and want to remove the restriction
before the 2 years have elapsed, you will have to do Initial
Basic Training (IBT) progression module 5 (and modules 1 and 3 if not
already done) on a motorcycle greater than 40kW.

Rules

You are entitled to apply for a driving licence if you have passed the
driving test for that category of vehicle within the previous 2 years. If the
Certificate of Competency you were issued with is over 2 years old, you will
have to pass the driving test again.

Duration of licence

The period of time a driving licence is issued for depends on the age of the
applicant. There are 4 age brackets that the period of a licence falls
under.

If you are under 60 years of age, you may apply for a 10-year licence or
a 3-year (on medical grounds)

If you are older than 60 but younger than 67 years of age, you may apply
for a licence that will expire the day before your 70th birthday

If you are older than 67 but under 70 years of age, you may apply for a
3-year licence

If you are over the age of 70, you will need a certification of fitness
to drive from your doctor to apply for a 3-year or a one-year licence

Categories of vehicles

Your category of driving licence may give you entitlement to a driving
licence for certain other categories of driving licence. See ‘Further
information’ below.

Rates

Since January 2013, the cost of driving licences is as follows:

Ten-year driving licence costs €55

Five-year bus or truck driving licence costs €55

Three-year driving licence costs €35

One-year driving licence costs €25

Adding a new category to your current driving licence costs €35.

Motorists over the age of 70 can get their driving licence for free.

Information on acceptable forms of payment is available on the application
form.

Any required eyesight tests or medical examinations are not
free of charge.

How to apply

You have to apply in person to one of the NDLS centres. You do not have to
provide photographs with your application but you do need to bring additional
documents with you in order to confirm you are the person who is applying for
the driving licence.

If you have a learner permit or Irish driving licence, you need to bring
evidence of your PPS Number and proof of address. If you do not have a learner
permit or an Irish driving licence, you need to bring photographic ID, proof of
your residency entitlement, evidence of your PPS Number and proof of address.
See ‘Proof of identity’ below.

Your current or most recently issued learner permit. If your learner
permit has been lost or stolen, the application form must be signed and
stamped by a Garda in your local Garda
Station

Your current driving licence if adding a category to the driving
licence

A Driving Licence Medical Report Form may be required (see below)

A Driving Licence Eyesight Report Form may be required (see below)

A Certificate of Competency

The appropriate fee - see Rates above

Medical report form

You will require a Driving Licence Medical Report Form if you are applying
for driving licence categories C, C1, D, D1, CE, C1E, DE or D1E (buses and
trucks), unless you previously provided a medical report which is still
applicable.

You will not require a Driving Licence Medical Report Form if you are
applying for driving licence categories AM, A1, A2, A, B, BE or W (motorcycles,
cars and work vehicles) unless:

You will be 70 years of age or more on the first day of the period for
which the licence is being issued or

You have a specific disability or condition (see application form)

You can download
the medical report form (pdf) (it must be printed back to back on one
page). It is also available from NDLS centres. A registered medical
practitioner should carry out your medical examination and then complete the
form. You must sign the declaration on the medical report form in the presence
of the registered medical practitioner. It must be submitted within 1 month.

Eyesight report form

You will require a Driving Licence Eyesight Report Form if you no longer
need glasses or contact lenses. You can download
the eyesight report form (pdf) (pages 1 and 2 should be printed back to
back on one page). It is also available from NDLS centres. It must be submitted
within 1 month of completion.

Proof of address (See Note below)
- Utility bill from your electricity/phone/gas/cable television/broadband
provider
- Correspondence with an insurance company
- Statement from your bank/building society/credit union
- Letter from the Department of Social Protection or Revenue
- Other official correspondence from an Irish State agency, such as
government departments; HSE; Register of Electors/polling card; CAO;
Private Residential Tenancies Board or third-level college/training
agency

Note: Proof of address documents can be no more than 6 months old at date of
application. Mobile phone bills and statements from store cards/catalogue
companies are not accepted.

Contact Us

If you have a question relating to this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0761 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm) or you can visit your local Citizens Information Centre.